Happy New Year!

This month...a new free piece, some 2023 project ideas, and some recommendations.

Free Piece

This months free piece was written on the first morning of the new year. It is a short, singable melody using drop D tuning. There are a couple tricky stretches in there that may add a bit of a challenge. I hope you enjoy playing it.

First Morning - Standard Notation & TAB

First Morning - video

2023 Projects

I spent a good amount of December thinking about what I wanted to work on in the new year. My primary focus will remain writing and recording. 

I am currently writing and arranging music for what I hope will be two new releases. This would most likely be a two year project, with one release in 2023 and one in 2024. A good portion of this year will be spent in the writing/editing/re-writing phase. I will share more specific details about the music in future months.

I am also still toying with the idea of selecting ten of my favorite pieces from all of my past recordings (2009 - 2022) and put them together for a vinyl release. Maybe this will be the year that I actually make that happen?  

Lastly, I am working on volume 2 of my book Ten Studies for Classical Guitar as well as some stand alone pieces for classical guitar that I hope to publish through Guitar Chamber Music Press. If you haven't my seen current publications, you can see them here: Guitar Chamber Music Press

Recommendations...

Living the Tradition

It is no secret that I absolutely love traditional Irish music. I recently found this wonderful documentary called Living the Tradition. Cellist Ilse de Ziah traces the roots and stories behind some of Ireland's most beautiful and haunting airs by visiting and performing with Irish musicians and scholars. Ilse also performs her own solo cello arrangements of these airs as well. 

This is the accompanying album. 

Irish Airs for Solo Cello - Ilse de Ziah

Stoner - John Williams

This is a difficult book to read...emotionally. The main character, William Stoner, passes through his life only to face disappointment after disappointment, but there is beauty and truth in his sadness and struggle. It is the brutal representation of one man's ordinary life from start to finish. 

Siger - Rodeland

Siger is brothers Ward & Hartwin Dhoore who play instrumental compositions rooted in Flemish traditional music on mandola and accordion.

I have had this on loop for weeks. So good.

The Murphy Beds - Easy Way Down

The Murphy Beds released Easy Way Down in 2022. Eamon O'Leary and Jefferson Hamer play folk music from Irish, Scottish, and English traditions, as well as original tunes. They weave beautiful their vocal harmonies in and out of their bouzouki, guitar, and mandolin accompaniment. 

Also check out their 2012 release The Murphy Beds....another favorite of mine.

That's all for now. I hope the New Year brings you and yours good health and happiness.

As for myself, I am looking forward to committing to less screen time & social media, and more time spent with family, friends, music, & books.

See you next month.

Vin